Student Highlight: Akira Camargo ’18

The Bruin Club

2 years ago

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Hi there! I’m Eimi (pronounced ‘Amy’) and I’m your correspondent for Student Highlight this year, a column dedicated to highlighting the scholars who attend this institution. While I’ve deduced that there’s no ‘typical’ Brown student, I hope to share a small glimpse into the wonderful and diverse individuals of this community.

Name: Akira Camargo

Hometown: Tokyo, Japan

Concentration: Development Studies

What classes are you taking this semester? Methods in Development Research (DEVL 1500), Race, Gentrification, and the Policing of Urban Space (PLCY 1701), Contemporary Mande Performance (TAPS 1390), Planning, Designing, Building in West Africa: Informality from Urban Scale to Material Choices (URBN 1940)

Favorite class thus far? The Korean War in Color (ENGL 1761V) with Professor Daniel Kim. The class really rekindled the joys of reading. I had never taken an English class at Brown, let alone an upperclassmen English seminar, but he was very willing to take individual time to talk and help each student out. As a result, I grew a lot as a writer.

What do you do on or off campus? I’m the president of the Japanese Cultural Association. We’re hosting a panel discussion this Thursday on the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster that I’ll be moderating with some guest speakers. I also tutor with BRYTE; my tutee is a 17-year old high school senior from Cambodia who is this mature, loving, protective figure for his family. He moved to the United States 6 months ago and wants to be a mechanical engineer. He’s really smart and has the technological skill set, so we’re working on his written and oral communication to be able to express that.

Favorite Brown memory or experience? George Takei came to give a talk, and I got to ask him a question as an audience member. The fact that Brown invites guest speakers and that I can have a conversation with them makes me appreciate the amazing opportunities that Brown has to offer and that these are not to be taken for granted.

Why Brown? Collaborative and not competitive. The atmosphere and culture of Brown are not cut-throat in which you have to fight other people academically. It’s quite the opposite actually where you work with other people.

Know someone who should be featured or want to get in touch with a highlighted student? Send me an email at eimi_satoh@brown.edu!